Danny: Making Disciples in Tanzania

His Early Years

Danny grew up hearing about Jesus at church, but he didn’t take his faith seriously until he was 14 years old. Danny says, “I remember the pastor saying that you could come to the church every day and do everything right, but if you don’t have a relationship with Christ, you are nothing. I knew I did not have a relationship with Christ, so I went to my pastor and told him I wanted to make my own decision and not just live like a child who is living in a Christian family.”

Not long after this, Danny spent a year in Iowa as a high school exchange student. When he returned to Tanzania, he completed years five and six of high school, studied medicine for three years, and became a clinical officer (similar to a physician’s assistant). He worked in a hospital in Kilimanjaro for two years before opening a small pharmacy there. It was at this time that he started doing sports ministry. Soon after, he decided to move the three hours back to Longido because he had more connections there to expand sports ministry.

Connecting with FCA

Danny first heard of FCA when he was part of the huddle at his Iowa high school. When he began sports ministry in Tanzania, he reached out to FCA’s Support Center in Kansas City for support. Global Field Officer Dan Britton connected Daniel with Vincent Asamoah, International Divisional Vice President for South Global in 2020. Vincent visited Danny and Gerald, another connection in Tanzania, and both Danny and Gerald became part of FCA.

A Week of Ministry

A typical week of ministry looks like this:

Sunday: Danny and his family spend most of the day at church where he plays keyboard for the praise team. 

Monday: Family Day

Tuesday: He does office work in the morning and connects with coaches and athletes on the sports fields in the afternoon, often at Suma Engikaret Secondary School. 

Wednesday: He meets with his team of over 50 kids from area primary schools. The team, the Sungura Stars, serves as a model for ministry. He supports the coach who pours into his athletes. (Side note: Sungura means “rabbit.” These Rabbit Stars are named after his favorite South Dakota State University mascots, the Jackrabbits).

Thursday: He returns to Suma Engikaret Secondary School.

Friday: He goes to Namanga where he meets with Coach Taiko who he is discipling.  He also ministers to five or six physical education teachers and 100 kids who come to play.

Saturday: He meets again with the Sungura Stars for four hours in the morning. He uses this time to model coaching and discipleship. There are both Christians and unbelievers on the team, including over 15 Muslims. The coaches won’t force the athletes to follow a Christian way, but they will bring them together, pray with them, and continue building relationships with them.

Impact Stories

Daniel shared two stories of impact. First is the story of six-year-old Musa. Musa doesn't know where his father is, and two years ago, his mother was taken to prison. At four years old, he had nowhere to go. The school principal took him in so he would have a home and family. Musa's dream is to be a famous footballer (soccer player). His coach, Taiko, is pouring into him, teaching him soccer, and showing him the love of a heavenly Father. Taiko can do this because Daniel is pouring into him and teaching him how to become a transformational coach. 

Another is the story of Coach Eliamani, who coaches the Sungura Stars. Because of several responsibilities he has for his upcoming wedding, he has not been committed to coaching the Rabbits. Daniel has started mentoring him, and now, even though his responsibilities have not changed, he is committed to the team and makes great effort to be present at practices. He asks Daniel many spiritual questions and has a hunger to grow in his walk with the Lord. He trusts Daniel. Daniel continues to pray and speak life into Coach Eliamani. 

A Great Vision

Daniel’s original vision was to grow sports ministry slowly, first in Longido, then slowly moving into the other districts of Arusha, and finally slowly going beyond that city. However, the Lord has shown Daniel that His plans are bigger than that. He now has connections all over the country, and many are hungry to start sports ministry. He is mobilizing volunteers and recently did a training with five teachers. He said, “They were so surprised because they didn’t know about sports ministry and that they could use it to bring Jesus to people.” They talked to their supervisor, and the head of the school called Daniel and told him he wanted to be a part of this. This has the potential to multiply all over Tanzania.

Daniel also has a vision to build a recreation center in Longido District like the one he went to in Iowa. He said, “It has different recreational sports like pickleball, basketball, volleyball, a gym and different things that attract people from the community to come. I wish and dream of that. That will widen the platform for reaching out with the Gospel and allow me to run different sports programs.”

Partnership with South Dakota

Daniel met the staff from South Dakota in the Spring of 2022. He said, “They are my #1 game-changers because so much has happened that I don’t think would have happened without them being involved in my life and in my family. When the SD team came into our life, it was like things became brighter. My family is very encouraged by the presence of the SD team and pray that one day my whole family will meet the SD team so they can also feel that connection that has brought so much impact.”

A group of board members and staff are planning a Vision Trip to Tanzania in the Fall of 2023, and Daniel can’t wait to show them his ministry and his country. He looks forward to this first trip and then prays for many more trips to follow. He says, “I have a big family in the South Dakota team.”